Sega, Sony Ink Cross-Platform Game-Play Pact

TOKYO — Sega and Sony announced here that they plan to enable users of Sega's Dreamcast console to connect online with users of Sony's PlayStation 2 consoles for cross-platform game play.

The capability was called the industry's first trial in cross-console networking. The news delivers on Sega's promise that it would collaborate with Sony in online game applications and services. The former console platform developer announced at the start of the year that it would give up its console business to concentrate on game development for other platforms, including PS2.

Meanwhile, Sega continues to support the Dreamcast platform as it clears out inventory. The game developer plans to issue a number of new titles in August for Dreamcast. Some of those will have online game playing capability.

Sega reports sales of some 800,000 Dreamcast players worldwide. Each player includes a modem for online game play capability.

Sony, meanwhile, announced at the recent E3 Show in Los Angeles that it will supply an Internet Adapter and a hard-drive add-on this year to enable PS2 users to begin online game play. The agreement will help lay the groundwork for Sony's plans of making PS2 the hub of a home entertainment network that plays DVD movies and accesses the Internet in addition to playing games.